1. Home
  2. Profiles
  3. Ivan Koloff

Ivan Koloff

[Ivan Koloff GALLERY]

[The Russians]

Ivan Koloff Match History

Title History

  • IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Johnny Rougeau (1968);
  • WWWF World Heavyweight title defeating Bruno Sammartino (January 18, 1971);
  • IWA (Japan) World tag team titles w/Mad Dog Vachon defeating Strong Kobayashi and Great Kusatsu (April 13, 1973);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Television title defeating Danny Miller (May 10, 1974);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Television title defeating Paul Jones (October 1974);
  • NWA Florida tag team titles w/Mr. Saito defeating Pedro Morales and Rocky Johnson (1977);
  • NWA Florida tag team titles w/Mr. Saito defeating Steve Keirn and Mike Graham (1977);
  • WWA (Indianapolis) World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (June 18, 1977);
  • NWA Florida tag team titles w/Pat Patterson defeating Jack and Jerry Brisco (July 1977);
  • NWA (Florida) Southern Heavyweight title defeating Steve Keirn (July 20, 1977);
  • NWA Florida tag team titles w/Mr. Saito defeating Masked Marauders [Tournament] (December 6, 1977);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Ole Anderson defeating Tommy Rich and Thunderbolt Patterson (June 1978);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Ole Anderson defeating Tony Atlas and Thunderbolt Patterson (July 1978);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Ole Anderson defeating Jack and Jerry Brisco (January 19, 1979);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Ole Anderson defeating Wahoo McDaniel and Tommy Rich (June 8, 1979);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Ole Anderson defeating Stan Hansen and Tommy Rich (August 31, 1979);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Alexi Smirnoff defeating Jerry Brisco and Ole Anderson (March 1980);
  • NWA Georgia tag team titles w/Alexi Smirnoff defeating Tony Atlas and Kevin Sullivan (April 26, 1980);
  • NWA Florida tag team titles w/Nikolai Volkoff defeating Jack and Jerry Brisco (August 7, 1980);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World tag team titles w/Ray Stevens defeating Masked Superstar and Paul Jones (Febuary 22, 1981);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Heavyweight title defeating Ricky Steamboat (April 16, 1981);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Television title defeating Ron Bass (November 3, 1981);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Television title defeating Jimmy Valiant (1982);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Television title defeating Jimmy Valiant (1982);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Heavyweight title Awarded (December 1983);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Heavyweight title defeating Angelo Mosca Jr. (March 18, 1984);
  • NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title defeating Brain Adias [Tournament] (April 29, 1984);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic tag team titles w/Don Kernodle defeating Rufus R. Jones and Bugsy McGraw (May 1984);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World tag team titles w/Don Kernodle defeating Mark Youngblood and Wahoo McDaniel (May 8, 1984);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World Six Man tag team titles w/Nikita Koloff and Don Kernodle Awarded (August 1984);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World Six Man tag team titles w/Nikita Koloff and Krusher Khrushchev 1985);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World tag team titles w/Nikita Koloff defeating Manny Fernandez and Dusty Rhodes (March 18, 1985);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World tag team titles w/Nikita Koloff defeating Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (October 13, 1985);
  • NWA United States tag team titles w/Krusher Khrushchev defeating Dutch Mantell and Bobby Jaggers (September 28, 1986);
  • NWA United States tag team titles w/Dick Murdoch defeating Barry Windham and Ron Garvin (March 14, 1987);
  • NWA World Six Man tag team titles w/Warlord and Barbarian defeating Dusty Rhodes and Hawk and Paul Ellering (Febuary 12, 1988);
  • WWC (World Wrestling Council) Puerto Rican Heavyweight title defeating Invader I (July 15, 1989);
  • CWF Mid Atlantic tag team titles w/Sean Powers defeating American Steel Ninja and Brass Monkey (Febuary 5, 2005);

Career Highlights

In The Beginning:

  • August 25, 1942: Jim Perras was born and raised in Chrysler, Ontario and is now retired in North Carolina.

Getting into the Business:

  • Early 1960s: Jim Perras began wrestling as “Jim Parris” and “Red McNulty”.
  • Ivan Koloff was initially billed as the nephew of Dan Koloff, a wrestler from the 1930s.
  • 1968: Jim Perras became “Ivan Koloff” and defeated Johnny Rougeaufor the International title in Montreal.

World Wide Wrestling Federation:

  • 1970: Ivan Koloff joined the WWWF, and was soon after managed by Captain Lou Albano.
  • February 24, 1970 – WWWF: Karl Kovacs and Killer Kowalski and Ivan Koloff beat Gorilla Monsoon and Victor Rivera and Lee Wong.
  • March 24, 1970 – WWWF: Ivan Koloff vs. Killer Kowalski ended in a No Contest – also in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
  • January 18, 1971: Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno Sammartino, this ending Bruno’s 7-Year reign as WWWF champion.
  • February 8, 1971: Pedro Morales defeated Ivan Koloff to capture the WWWF Heavyweight title.

On The Road:

  • September 1, 1972 – AWA Soldiers Field: Verne Gagne defeated Ivan Koloff to retain the AWA World title.
  • January 25, 1978 – Florida Superbowl of Wrestling: Jack and Jerry Brisco defeated Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito.
  • July 21, 1979 – Mid-South Superdome Extravaganza: Mike Sharpe defeated Ivan Koloff.
  • August 3, 1980 – Florida Last Tangle in Tampa: Dick Murdoch and Bugsy McGraw defeated Ivan Koloff and Nikolai Volkoff.
  • November 27, 1980 – Mid-South Superdome Extravaganza: Dusty Rhodes defeated Ivan Koloff.
  • May 29, 1984 – NWA Night of Champions: Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle b Pez Whatley and Mark Youngblood to retain NWA Tag titles.

National Wrestling Alliance – The Russians:

  • Ivan Koloff developed into a tag team wrestler and formed a faction known as The Russians.
  • November 22, 1984 – NWA Starrcade: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita Koloff) defeated Ole Anderson and Keith Larson.
  • February 24, 1985 – NWA/AWA Star Wars: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) defeated Steve Keirn and Jimmy Valiant.
  • ~~~Later that night, The Russians competed in a “Tag Team Battle Royal”, which was won by Sgt. Slaughter.
  • July 6, 1985 – NWA G.A.B.: Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khrushchev (NWA) vs The Road Warriors (AWA) ended in a double disqualification.
  • September 28, 1985 – AWA Superclash I: Ivan and Nikita and Khrushchev defeated The Crusher, Dick the Bruiser and Baron Von Raschke.
  • November 28, 1985 – NWA Starrcade: The RockNRoll Express defeated The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) to win the NWA tag team titles.
  • December 29, 1985 – NWA/AWA Star Wars: The Road Warriors defeated The Russians (Ivan and Khrushchev).
  • January 21, 1986 – PNW Superstar Extravaganza: The Road Warriors and Magnum TA beat Ivan and Nikita Koloff and Timothy Flowers..
  • February 2, 1986 – NWA Superstars on the Superstation: The Road Warriors defeated The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) by Disqualification.
  • February 24, 1986 – NWA/AWA Star Wars: Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors defeated Ivan and Nikita Koloff and Baron Von Raschke.
  • April 19, 1986 – NWA 1st Annual Jim Crockett Sr Memorial: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) defeated Jimmy Valiant and Manny Fernandez.
  • ~~~Second Round, The Russians fought Steve Williams and Terry Taylor to a draw.
  • April 28, 1986 – AWA/NWA Rage In a Cage: The Road Warriors defeated The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) in a “Steel Cage” Match.
  • June 14, 1986 – Mid South Superdome: Dusty Rhodes/Steve Williams/Bill Watts beat Ivan/Nikita/Kortsia Korchenko (Street Fight).
  • July 5, 1986 – NWA Great American Bash: The Road Warriors defeated Ivan and Nikita Koloff in a “Russian Chain” match.
  • September 28, 1986 – NWA US Tag Title Tournament: The Russians (Koloff and Khrushchev) defeated Tim Horner and Nelson Royal.
  • ~~~Second Round: The Russians (Koloff and Khrushchev) defeated Magnum TA and Dusty Rhodes.
  • ~~~Finals: The Russians (Koloff and Khrushchev) defeated Dutch Mantel and Bobby Jaggars to win the Tournament!
  • November 27, 1986 – NWA Starrcade: The Russians (Koloff and Khrushchev) beat Bobby Jaggars and Dutch Mantel in a no disqualification match.
  • February 7, 1987 – NWA Supertowns on the Superstation: The RockNRoll Express defeated Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Petrov by disqualification.
  • April/May 1987 – NWA US Tag Title Tournament: Barry Windham and Ronnie Garvin beat Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Petrov in the 1st round.
  • April 10-11, 1987 – NWA Jim Crockett Sr Memorial Cup: Bob and Brad Armstrong beat Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Petrov in the 1st round.

National Wrestling Alliance – The Russian Bear:

  • July 4, 1987 – NWA Great American Bash: The Fabulous Freebirds defeated Ivan Koloff and Manny Fernandez and Paul Jones.
  • July 31, 1987 – NWA Great American Bash: Mike Rotunda defeated Ivan Koloff to retain the Florida Heavyweigh title.
  • January 24, 1988 – NWA Bunkhouse Stampede: Ivan Koloff competed in a “Steel Cage Bunkhouse Stampede” match.
  • March 27, 1988 – NWA CotC I: Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors beat Ivan Koloff and Powers of Pain in a “Barbed Wire” match.
  • April 22-23, 1988 – NWA Jim Crockett Sr Memorial Cup: Ivan Koloff and Dick Murdoch beat Jimmy Valiant and Mighty Wilbur.
  • ~~~Second Round: Lex Luger and String defeated Ivan Koloff and Dick Murdoch.
  • July 10, 1988 – NWA Great American Bash: The Road Warriors’ Team defeated Ivan Koloff’s team in a “Tower of Doom Match.
  • ~~~Team #1: The Road Warriors, Steve Williams, Jimmy Garvin, Ronnie Garvin.
  • ~~~Team #2: Ivan Koloff, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda, Al Perez and The Russian Assassin.
  • September 7, 1988 – NWA Clash of the Champions III: Ricky Morton defeated Ivan Koloff in a “Russian Chain” matcn.
  • Oct/Dec 1988 – NWA US Tag Title Tournament: Ivan and Nikita Koloff vs The Russian Assassins ended in a double disqualification.
  • December 7, 1988 – NWA CotC IV: Ivan Koloff defeated Paul Jones with one arm tied behind his back.
  • December 26, 1988 – NWA Starrcade: The Russian Assassins defeated Ivan Koloff and The Junk Yard Dog.
  • October 7, 1989 – WWC 16th Anniversary: Invader #1 beat Ivan Koloff in a “Russian Chain” match to win the WWC Puerto Rican title.
  • March 2, 1991 – Tri-State Winter Challenge II: Ivan Koloff defeated Manny Fernandez in a “Russian Chain” match.

Herb Abrams’ Universal Wrestling Federation:

  • June 1991 – UWF Television Title Tournament: Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Ivan Koloff in the first round.
  • June 9, 1991 – UWF Beach Brawl: Bob Backlund defeated Ivan Koloff.

Eastern Championship Wrestling:

  • February 1, 1992 – SMW TV: Bobby Fulton defeated Ivan Koloff by disqualification.
  • February 8, 1992 – SMW TV: The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Jackie Fulton) defeated Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Koloff.
  • February 22, 1992 – SMW TV: Ivan Koloff and Jimmy Golden defeated The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Jackie Fulton).
  • February 25, 1992 – ECW: Tony Stetson defeated Ivan Koloff.
  • March 14, 1992 – SMW TV: Ivan Koloff, Jimmy Golden and Vladimir Koloff defeated Ben Jordan, Reno Riggins and Rocky Patterson.
  • March 24, 1992 – ECW: Ivan Koloff defeated Tony Stetson in a “Russian Chain” match.
  • April 11, 1992 – SMW TV: Danny Davis and Joey Maggs defeated Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Koloff in the 1st round.
  • April 30, 1992 – WCW House Show: Ivan Koloff and Ricky Steamboat defeated The Dangerous Alliance (Rick Rude and Steve Austin).
  • October 2, 1992 – ECW: Jimmy Snuka defeated Ivan Koloff.
  • October 3, 1992 – ECW: Ivan Koloff won a “Battle Royal” – Later, Tommy Cairo beat Ivan Koloff in a 1-on-1 match.
  • October 24, 1992 – ECW: Tommy Cairo defeated Ivan Koloff in a “Russian Chain” match.
  • May 23, 1993 – WCW Slamboree: Thunderbolt Patterson and Brad Armstrong defeated Ivan Koloff and Baron Von Raschke.
  • June 29, 1993 – ECW Hardcore TV: Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Koloff defeated Glen Osbourne and Herve Renesto.
  • July 6, 1993 – ECW Hardcore TV: Ivan Koloff defeated The Sandman.
  • August 17, 1993 – ECW Hardcore TV: Ivan and Vladimir Koloff vs The Headhunters ended in a disqualification in the 1st round.
  • August 31, 1993 – ECW Hardcore TV: Salvatore Bellomo and The Sandman defeated Ivan and Vladimir Koloff in the semi-finals.
  • September 28, 1993 – ECW Hardcore TV: Ivan and Vladimir Koloff defeated Don E. Allen and Herve Renesto in a dark match.

Retirement:

  • September 1994: Ivan Koloff retired from wrestling and briefly ran a wrestling school.
  • Ivan Koloff now lives in North Carolina.
  • December 14, 2002 – Coastal Real Extreme Wrestling: Ivan Koloff defeated Marc Ash in a Russian chain match!!
  • February 5, 2005 – CWF Mid Atlantic: Sean Powers and Ivan Koloff defeated American Steel Ninja and Bass Munkey.
  • February 25, 2005 – Carolina Wrestling Association: George South Jr. beat Ivan Koloff in a chain match with Jimmy Valiant as referee.
  • February 26, 2005 – ACPW: Ivan Koloff defeated Zane Dawson.
  • March 12, 2005 – CWF Mid-Atlantic: Twisted Aggression (Ivan Koloff and Sean Powers) defeated Brass Munkey and Corey Edsel to retain the AWA/CWF Mid-Atlantic tag team titles.
  • March 19, 2005 – CWF Mid-Atlantic: Southside Playaz (J-Money and Will B. Smooth) defeated Twisted Aggression (Ivan Koloff and Sean Powers) to win the AWA/CWF Mid-Atlantic tag team titles.
  • August 27, 2005 – WrestleReunion: Ivan Koloff defeated Domenic DeNucci in a Russian Chain match.
  • October 29, 2005 – TNT: Tony Atlas and The Patriot and Ranger Ross and The Stro defeated Ivan Koloff and The Russian Army.
  • February 18, 2006 – ACPW: The Stro vs Ivan Koloff ended in a No Contest.
  • March 25, 2006 – ACPW: Soul Reaper defeated Ivan Koloff in a Chain match.
  • May 6, 2006 – NCWA: George South Sr. defeated Ivan Koloff by disqualification with Ronnie Garvin as referee.
  • July 29, 2006 – American Coast Pro Wrestling: Ivan Koloff defeated George South Sr. in a Chain match.
  • December 2, 2006 – Revolutionary Championship Wrestling: Ivan Koloff and Randy Allen beat Ace Gigolo and C.O. Hustler.
  • February 3, 2007 – Alternative Championship Wrestling: Ivan Koloff beat George South Sr. in a Russian Chain match.
  • May 19, 2007: Ivan Koloff was involved in an auto accident near Charlotte and broke six ribs – get well soon Ivan!
  • June 18, 2007 – Exodus Wrestling (Ivan Koloff Benefit): They raised $800 to help pay Ivan Koloff’s medical bills.
  • August 18, 2007 – UPWA: Ivan Koloff defeated Mean Marc in Wilmington, North Carolina at the National Guard Armory.
  • April 26, 2008 – ICW: Marc Ash defeated “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff.
  • July 12, 2008 – Southern Heritage Championship Wrestling: Ivan Koloff defeated George South Sr. in a Russian Chain match.
  • September 6, 2008 – Georgia Christian Wrestling Federation: Ivan Koloff had a confrontation with “Hot Stuff” Brian Slater.
  • January 24, 2009 – NWA Charlotte: Ivan Koloff defeated The Barbarian in a Russian Chain match to win the vacant NWA Charlotte Legends title.
  • November 16, 2013 – Superstars of Wrestling: Bob Armstrong defeated Ivan Koloff.
  • I would like to thank Ivan Koloff and his wife Renae for helping with the accuracy of this profile.
  • Ivan Koloff passed away on February 18, 2017.
Updated: February 2, 2024 @ 11:29 am

Social Media

Twitter: IKoloff

Trained By

Jack Wentworth,
Dan Koloff

Debut

February 1965-September 1994

Birthday

August 25, 1942

Hometown

Born & Raised in Chrysler, Ontario
Retired in North Carolina

Gender

Male

Height

5'9 1/2''

Weight

249 lbs (113 kg)

Finishing Move(s)

The Bear hug

Favorite Move(s)

Inverted backbreaker,
The Clothesline,
The Knee Drop

Notable Feuds

Bruno Samartino,
Angelo Mosca,
The Iron Sheik,
Rock N Roll Express,
Jimmy Valiant,
Dusty Rhodes,
The Road Warriors

Status

Deceased